It is hard to give an answer to this as each catio is so different. They can run from $100 to $3000.

The cost will depend on these factors:

Are you building it or will you be hiring someone to build it?

How big is your new catio going to be? A window box is obviously going to cost you less than a 6×8 catio.

Tips for saving money

Start small. Add on as you have more resources. If your cat(s) have no catio now, they will love a window box. They are relatively cheap and easy to build, using spruce 2x2s and 1x3s, some pet screen and a bit of paint. You can find a plan at Catio Spaces.

Use recycled materials. One person in Middlewood got a free rabbit house from a friend and was able to attach it to a window. Half-rolls of hardware cloth can often be found on Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes you can even find a used catio!

Buy a pre-built unit

If you have some way to move it, used catios do pop up on Facebook Marketplace.

You can find catios on Aosom, Amazon, Temu, Wayfair, Walmart, etc. They are not very suited to Nova Scotia winters but they will do for a few years until you have more money.

Have a professional build the frame and you do the rest

When I was building mine, I hired a carpenter to build the frame and roof on my catio just to make sure it was sturdy. Then I added shelves and platforms inside myself and later added a tunnel.

We have tons of photos of catios of varying sizes and costs posted on the South Shore Catios page which are sure to give you ideas and you can always ask a question. The advantage of our page is that all the catios are located in Nova Scotia. We know about the bugs and the snow. The catios are built to withstand the weather. And of course we have the Annual South Shore Catio Tour every year in late August where you can see catios “up close and personal”.

There are several Facebook groups for catio inspiration: just search for “catios”. Most are international and it can be fun to see what’s happening globally.

YouTube has some super catio tours. I found these ones particularly helpful when I was planning my catio and now when I am always thinking of ways to make it better for the cats:

• Chirpy Cats is based in Canada (Quebec?) and has a website and a YouTube channel.
  
  
• Catio Spaces sells DIY catio plans and shows a variety of videos of how their plans look when built. This is where I got my window box plan from (very easy to build!) and I modified another plan to better suit the Nova Scotia climate. Catio Spaces was one of the first to sell plans and to actively promote catios in North America.

Our Catio Home is based in the U.S. and has the biggest catio I have ever seen. They started small and kept adding on. She has detailed instruction videos on making stairs and tunnels, among other things.

• Catio Living is also American and has a patio filled with plants, shelves, an outdoor litter box, cameras and a disco ball.

You can also find ideas on TikTok, Pinterest and Reddit. There are plans for sale on Etsy.

Catios are becomingly more and more popular so it is getting much easier to find information.

Cat-lovers have a variety of reasons for building their cats a catio.

1. To keep them safe
   Every week there are dozens of posts on Facebook about missing indoor/outdoor cats who wander off or get spooked by a noise. A catio allows cats to be outside and keeps them safe at the same time. Cat owners know that most kitties love to explore outside. But allowing cats out on their own can be dangerous. A catio keeps cats away from moving cars, toxic substances, vicious animals, and loose dogs.
   
2. To enrich their lives
   “A cat’s natural behaviours include hunting and chasing, which many domestic felines don’t have the opportunity to do when cooped up in their homes. This lack of activity may result in boredom, which experts say can lead to more serious health issues.”
   Source: Why ‘catios’ are great for your cat’s well-being — and how to build one your pet will love
   
   A catio encourages jumping, balancing, and climbing on safe perches instead of being lazy or destructive indoors. Cats can feel the sunshine and the breeze.
   
3. To keep birds and other wildlife safe
   Catios provide the space and visual stimulation needed for cats to tap into their apex-predator instincts without getting lost or harming the environment, such as killing birds and other small animals.